Month 21 Expenses of Cruising and Living on the Boat

[sailorboy1]

Under budget this month again. Two months in a row so I’m going to need to try harder. This month we traveled from about mile 60 on the ICW near the NC/VA border to Washington DC.

Had a record low boat maintenance and repair cost this month and most of it was on the dinghy.

Marina costs were for using the dinghy docks in Norfolk/Portsmouth and for 10 days on a mooring in Washington DC.

Did two big grocery runs this month and the freezer is packed full. Ate out and did sightseeing, which was the point of the month to go to DC and do so.

The total expenses were $ 2,829.73. Cost breakdown as follows for planners and hecklers:

Food, soda, alcohol, clothing, sundries - $ 1,023.25
Boat upgrades, repairs, maintenance - $ 81.10
Fuel (diesel, gas, propane) - $ 71.70
Dining out - $ 966.97
Entertainment - $ 223.31
Communication, storage, shipping - $ 96.13
Fees – $ -45.42
Marina - $ 382.90
Electric - $ 0
Medical - $ 20.19
Transportation - $ 60

[kmacdonald]

You must have lost weight with that eating out expense.

Did I see your boat in Oxford MD?

[sailorboy1]

No to both

[flyingfin]

How do you get by with $20 in medical??? My medicare Part D and Part N is almost $175 per month??

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by flyingfin

How do you get by with $20 in medical??? My medicare Part D and Part N is almost $175 per month??

We have an ACA silver plan and take just enough out of our 401K each year to qualify as income for the maximum subsidy.

[jhulmer]

Looks good SB! You aren't afraid of a good meal out! That's me as well.
10 days on a mooing in DC for $382.90 sounds very reasonable, where did you moor?

As always thanks for the continued posts. I think you out lasted the hecklers ... I kind of miss them. so sad.

[fred4936]

Thank you for keeping us posted on your expenses! This serves as a very good guide for my wife and I. Hopefully not too many years behind you!

[Hardhead]

Impressive - good info to hear.

What type of fees do you usually see just for access to a dingy landing, without a full marina slip?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by jhulmer

Looks good SB! You aren't afraid of a good meal out! That's me as well.
10 days on a mooing in DC for $382.90 sounds very reasonable, where did you moor?

There's 8 mooring balls right in the Washington Channel. It's confusing whose they really are as they are managed by Gangplank Marina, but if booking you need to use Dockwa and it's call Wharf market Dockes. They are $35/day which includes dinghy landing at either the Wharf Market by the fish market or at Gangplank Marina. If anyone what more info let me know (I'll update the info in Active Captain but who knows if that will "take")

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Hardhead

Impressive - good info to hear.

What type of fees do you usually see just for access to a dingy landing, without a full marina slip?

I've seen $0-$12

Some will allow you access to the showers and coin op laundry, and some nothing but landing your dinghy.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

We have an ACA silver plan and take just enough out of our 401K each year to qualify as income for the maximum subsidy.

Smart move. Glad to see the ACA work out well for some people.

[MV Wanderlust]

Great information and good to know about the mooring balls in DC as we intend to hit there, too. Thanks for continuing to post.

[SV Bacchus]

Excellent info SB1, keep on keeping on!

[slowneasy]

Thanks for the great information. Now I have to consider adding Washington DC to my future travel plans.

[esperando]

Good news: Great info, nice to have it real life;

Bad news: If that is what it costs to go cruising I am probably out. Sure, you can go on a full peanut butter, but if you can't have some fun nights out, seems you miss a lot of the local life.